The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched an investigation into the tragic road crash that claimed the lives of 22 athletes from Kano State.
The Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina States, Assistant Corps Marshal Ahmed Umar, announced this on Monday during a condolence visit to the Kano State Government House.
Chronicle NG reports that the tragic incident occurred just a few kilometres from Kano while the athletes were returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun.
During the visit, the FRSC chairman, Umar, called the accident “a devastating and tragic loss not just to Kano State but to the entire country,” noting that the athletes had done admirably at the competition before their untimely deaths.
“We have launched an in-depth investigation into the cause of this heart-wrenching crash. These young athletes were on national service to promote unity through sports when this terrible tragedy struck,” he said.
He mentioned that the accident occurred at a spot long regarded as a notorious death trap and urged both state and federal authorities to take urgent steps to fix and secure such black spots.
“It is compulsory for the authorities, at whatever cost, to take decisive actions to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.
“We cannot afford to keep losing lives this way,” he stressed.
Umar also called on FRSC officials in Kano to remain proactive and to regularly advise the state government on danger zones, poor road conditions, and other traffic-related issues across the state.
While commiserating with Kano’s government and people, the FRSC commander reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborating closely with the Kano State Government to improve road safety and save lives.
Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo responded on behalf of the governor, thanking the FRSC delegation for their concern and solidarity during what he termed as one of the darkest events in recent memory.
He said, “We sincerely appreciate your coming all the way to commiserate with us over this unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of 22 of our citizens. It is a huge and tragic loss.”
Gwarzo stated that the government was deeply pained by the incident, particularly because the athletes were returning from representing the state in a national event.
“They were close to home, just a few kilometres away from Kano, when this heartbreaking accident occurred. It’s very devastating,” he added.
He restated the Kano State Government’s preparedness to engage with the FRSC in implementing road safety policies that would assist in averting future fatal crashes.
“This is a wake-up call for all stakeholders. We must work together to protect the lives of our citizens,” he said.
He stated that the government will continue to support the victims’ families while also taking the necessary steps to prevent a repeat of the unfortunate occurrence.
